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Siobhan Freegard, founder of the parenting website Netmums, said: "We all know children copy their parents' behaviour, so for almost half of all 10-year-olds to see their parents drunk is storing up trouble for the future.

"While no one is suggesting parents shouldn't have the odd drink, being drunk in charge of children is setting a poor example and can be very frightening for the child.

"The study shows teens are twice as likely to get drunk if they see their parents drunk - and it also makes it harder for parents to talk about drinking responsibly. Kids will simply see it as a case of 'do as I say, not as I do'.

"Of course many teenagers will experiment with booze but the best way to safeguard them is to drink sensibly yourself and show them alcohol can be enjoyed without going over the top."

An estimated 3.4 million children live with an adult binge drinker, while 740,000 live with a heavy or hazardous drinker, previous research has shown.

Those who think they have seen their parents drunk have been found to be significantly more likely to have been drunk on multiple occasions than those who have not seen their parents drunk.

Draft guidance on alcohol consumption by children and young people from the chief medical officers of England, Wales and Northern Ireland says parental use of alcohol increases the likelihood that children will also consume alcohol.

“When parents get drunk, children are more likely to engage in alcohol-related risk behaviours and are more likely to suffer harms as a result of parental alcohol consumption,” it says.

Elaine Hindal, chief executive of Drinkaware, said: "While setting rules about alcohol and speaking to children about the risks is a positive step, equally important is that parents understand their significant influence as role models and feel confident to set a good example.

"Children are aware of alcohol from a young age.

"Estimates suggest that around one in three children under 16 in the UK live with an adult binge-drinker, and studies show that the odds of a teenager getting drunk double if they have seen their parents drunk - even if only on a few occasions.

"Understanding the impact of what parents say as well as what they do is important, as both can shape children's attitudes towards alcohol."